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Using iMessage without iCloud

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Q: If my iCloud settings are switched off can I send or receive iMessages or will they go through as text messages?

- Emma

A: Your iCloud settings, found in the iCloud section of the iOS Settings app, are completely independent of your iMessage settings.

You can use iMessage even with iCloud completely disabled, or even if you’ve never setup an iCloud account at all. If you’re on an iPhone, you don’t even need to sign in with an Apple ID if you only want to send and receive iMessages using your cellular phone number; an Apple account is only required to associate email addresses with iMessage. FaceTime works in the exact same manner in terms of phone numbers and Apple IDs.

In fact, even if you are using an Apple ID for iMessage and/or FaceTime, this does not need to be the same Apple ID that you use for the iCloud account on your device, nor do the iMessage and FaceTime services require that you use the same Apple ID for each other. This also holds true for Game Center and the iTunes Store. While most people use the same Apple ID for all of these services to keep things simple, you are by no means required to do so, as each of these features operated independently of the others.

Comments

My icloud account on Imessage has been offline, and cannot be active any more. It's happening only on my imac. iMessage is still working on my phone, laptop, and machine at work.
I tried changing password etc, solutions found online didn't help.
Is there anything you could think of to try?
Thanks!Posted by airnyc on 2014-01-25 18:53:10

I recently bought my son an Ipod 4th gen. Im trying to set up imessage. here is the problem. I set up his apple ID with his icloud email address I got him ([email protected])I created a contact card of himself with his icloud email as his home. He can send imessages to everyone no problem, when anyone replies, the reply is a MMS (text)and not an Imessage. Worst of all the reply as a text goes to his [email protected] email inbox as an email because an Ipod cant receive text. Very frustrating. Does anyone have any idea??Posted by Cliff Smith on 2013-12-05 10:12:47

Good information. Thank you.Posted by Scott St. Onge on 2013-10-30 05:32:32